Celebrated Puzzle Game Designer Reveals UFO 50 as His All-Time Gaming Favorite
Tonda Ros, the developer behind the acclaimed 2025 puzzle game Blue Prince, has logged nearly 700 hours in UFO 50, calling it his favorite game of the past two decades. Ros discussed his journey from childhood PC gaming through his decade-long development of Blue Prince and his current work on tech support for the title. He is currently exploring new game projects while playing through his Steam library.
Tonda Ros's decade-long development of Blue Prince draws inspiration from multiple puzzle traditions, including the narrative adventure design of Myst and the spatial logic found in classic board games and puzzle publications. His creative journey began in childhood with early PC titles that emphasized exploration and problem-solving, establishing a foundation that would inform his later work.
Currently balancing technical support responsibilities for Blue Prince's post-launch phase, Ros is simultaneously exploring his gaming backlog and conceiving smaller-scale projects. His engagement with contemporary titles like Cairn demonstrates how established designers study emerging games to understand innovative control mechanics and player experience design.
This feature may reinforce the cultural legitimacy of video games within creative industries by positioning game design alongside established artistic disciplines like cinematography. Ros's recognition of UFO 50 could potentially influence player discovery and engagement with the compilation title, while his documented design process might offer aspiring developers insight into long-term creative commitment. The profile also illustrates how professional game creators maintain active participation in gaming culture, potentially bridging gaps between developer and player communities through accessible industry commentary.